This type of feeder is usually made out of wood, with a flat bottom, and some low sides to keep the seed from falling off. Platform feeders can have short legs on them to be used as a "ground feeder", or they can be mounted on a pole if you want to baffle it from squirrels. Add a roof to a basic mounted platform feeder and you have what's called a "fly-through feeder". A platform feeder attracts almost all species of wild birds that will visit feeders because of it's open design. The ground type is especially appealing to native sparrows and Juncos which otherwise might not visit an elevated feeder. The better platform feeders have screened bottoms for drainage, and I'd recommend this type.
A Platform feeder can have it's drawbacks though because it's also very appealing to squirrels, chipmunks, and any other critter that enjoys bird seed. Even if you elevate it and add a squirrel baffle, you're still left with the problem of weather. The same reason that makes a platform feeder so attractive to the birds, it's open design, also leaves it exposed to the elements. Adding a roof will help with the bad weather a bit, but only to a certain extent. You can use any seed except Niger with this type of feeder. |
